Multiple winder with automatic thread positioning



Oct. 3, 1967 R. D. LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 14, 1965 m mm WW M Q A d/W Two Oct. 3, 1967 D. LIVINGSTON MULTIPLEWINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14,1965 mmvwk Rzchard 2. llr/fiyszan W u -(9W [ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1967 R. D.LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

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ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1967 R. D. LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING Filed June 14, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 5 F? T? ,Pfl 64i/ v. INVENTOR. R 1c hard .0. L I'M/77560Arron/(Er;

Q 1967 R. D. LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING Filed June 14, 1965 9Sheets-Shet 6 I 25 I /7 l I /7 I 5 7 2/ I: I: LIZ L11; :1 :l :1 M11111:1'11: M

"w A T i I i I g i I I I i A I I i I I l I l ,4 I I I J 1 1 1 /3 2Richard D. LIV/7375i 0/1 60 364 Wz/M; 6 M

ATTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1967 R. D. LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING Filed June 14, 1965 9Sheets-Sheet 7 TTORNEKS Oct. 3, 1967. 3,345,004

' MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING R. D. LIVINGSTON 9Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June 14, 1965 THREAD 60m: FINGER I28 SHEAR l4! T055CLAMP RESFKVE Emma IAKM CLAMP m. J m T/ MV l ML D M d h w R A TTOKNEKSOct. 3, 1967 R. o. LIVINGSTON 3,345,004

MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATIC THREAD POSITIONING 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FiledJune 14, 1965 INVENTOR. Ric/14rd .D, 1/

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,345,004 MULTIPLE WINDER WITH AUTOMATICTHREAD POSITIONING Richard D. Livingston, Rockford, Ill., assignor toBarber- Colrnan Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illi- IIOISFiled June 14, 1965, Ser. No. 463,575 30 Claims. (Cl. 242-355) Thisinvention relates to multiple thread winding machines of the typesmanufactured by Barber-Colman Company, examples being disclosed inPatents Nos. 1,267,977 and 3,017,129. In such winders, reserve bobbinsare loaded into upwardly opening and equidistantly spaced pockets on onesupport with an unwound length of each bobbin thread lead upwardly to anassociated gripper ready to be picked up by a tying unit including aknotter mounted on a second support and operable to pick up and tie eachreserve thread to the broken thread of a package being wound and resumethe winding. The two supports are movable relative to each other along apredetermined path to bring the successive hung-up threads intooperative association with the tying unit. Heretofore, the hangmp of thebobbin threads in such multiple winders has been effected manually.

In certain of its aspects, the invention has more particular referenceto a multiple winder in which the tying unit and knotter are mounted ona carriage or socalled traveler which moves continuously around anendless path successively past the Winding units which are arranged sideby side and above the respective bobbin pockets.

The primary object is to utilize the relative movement of the bobbin andtying unit supports along the'aforesaid path in a novel manner to pickup the bobbin threads and hang each thread in its associated gripper inadvance of the association of the thread with the tying unit.

Another object is to effect such automatic hang-up of bobbin threads ina spooler of the moving traveler type.

A further object is to adapt the thread hang-up mechanism for use withdeposited reserve bobbins in which loose lengths of the threads thereofare tucked into the open upper end of the bobbin cores.

Still another object is to utilize the continuous motion of the travelerto effect both the opening and closing of the hang-up clamps in timedrelation to movement of the picked-up threads to the hang-up positions.

A further object is to pick up each bobbin thread by means of a suctiontube while positively unwinding the additional length of thread requiredfor the hang-up.

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the suction tubenozzle, means for unwinding the bobbin threads, and the novel manner ofpositioning the thread for proper engagement in the hang-up clamp.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary verticalcross-section of one winding unit of a Barber-Colman Type C spoolerembodying the improved thread pick-up and positioning mechanism, theadvancing traveler being shown in elevation.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view partially in diametrical section of abobbin whose unwound thread is adapted to be handled by the improvedpick-up mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reserve bobbin pocketsand hang-up clamps of several winding units together with the movingparts of the improved thread pick-up mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a similar perspective view taken'from a different angle.

3,345,004 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section takenalong the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the cam arrangement on thetraveler for actuating the thread pick-up arm and associated parts.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the plane 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 99 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view partially in section illustrating themanner of picking up a bobbin thread.

. FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan section taken from the plane 1111 ofFIG. 1 with moving parts on the traveler removed to show variousmountings.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are fragmentary plan views of the thread hang-upmechanism in different positions.

FIG. 15 is a time chart.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of the leading end portion ofthe traveler frame, most of the moving parts of the improved pick-upmechanism being omitted.

While the invention may be used in the different types of multiplewinders shown in the above mentioned patents and is adapted for use withbobbins in which the unwound thread lengths take different forms andoccupy different positions relative to the bobbin core, it is shown inthe drawings and will be described herein as applied to a Barber-ColmanType C spooler and bobbins of the construction shownin FIG. 2. It is tobe understood however that I do not intend to limit the invention bysuch illustrative disclosure but aim to cover all modifications andalternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims. 1

BARBER-COLMAN SPOOLER In the Type C spooler, a multiplicity of windingunits 10 are arranged side by side along one side of an elon-- gatedsupport or frame 11 upstanding from a supporting floor with an endlesspath 9 (FIG. 11) around which a second support or so-called traveler ortender 12 moves and operates successively on idle ones of the units toresume winding thereby. Each winding unit is mounted on an upstandingbracket 13 on the frame and includes an elongated arm 15 fulcrumed at 16on the upper end of the bracket. A spindle 17 projects laterally fromthe opposite or free end of the arm and rotatably supports the core of acheese or cone 21 onto which the thread 22 of a supply bobbin 23 iswound'to form a package of the desired size. Such winding occurs whilethe supply thread remains unbroken as shown in FIG. 1 with the cheeseresting on the top of a continuously rotating traversing drum 24 carriedby a shaft 25 paralleling the traveler path. The drum is grooved totraverse the thread back and forth across the cheese. In the windingposition, the

'arm 15 project generally horizontally and rearwardly from the pivot 16as shown in full in FIG. 1. While being drawn upwardly, the threadpasses through a break detector (not shown) and a thread cleaner orso-called snick plate 26.

The traveler is moved continuously around the endless path 9 and theframe 11 successively past the winding units 10. Power is supplied by amotor 27 (FIG. 1) which through suitable gearing drives a pinion 28meshing with the teeth on an overhead rack bar 29 fixed to arms 31upstanding from the frame 11.

The supply bobbins 23 for the winding units 10 are supported on skewers32 (FIG. 1) upstanding from the bottoms of upwardly opening pockets 33mounted on and uniformly spaced along the frame 11 below the windingdrums 24 and also below the path traversed by the traveler 12. The frontwall 34 of each pocket is inclined upwardly and outwardly and coactswith a downwardly sloping bottom wall 35 to support a reserve bobbin 36with the upper end 58 of the core thereof disposed somewhat below thepath of the traveler 12. Normally, when the running thread 22 breaks orbecomes exhausted, the skewer 32 is retracted downwardly by a plow onthe traveler to doff the bobbin, and then is swung through a slot 35into alinement with the reserve bobbin 36, raised into the bore of thelatter and finally swung reversely to place the bobbin in the windingposition.

In service operation of spoolers of the above character, new reservebobbins 36 are manually dropped endwise by the operator into the pockets33 after they have become empty. The operator finds the thread end,pulls the same upwardly to unwind enough to reach and be laid into agripper in the form of a mechanically operable clamp 37 of theassociated winding unit. The reserve thread thus hung up in the clamp ispositioned for engagement at the proper time with the tying unit 38 onthe advancing traveler, this unit including a knotter indicatedgenerally at 30 (FIG. 7) and, when adapted to tie a weavers knot,includes a hook 39 and a suction tube 41.

The clamps 37 each comprise an outwardly facing jaw 42 paralleling thepath 9 of the traveler and fixed to the upper end of bracket 43 rigidwith the frame 11 and upstanding from the top of the pocket 33 betweenthe active and reserve bobbins 23 and 36 and in the plane of rotation ofthe thread package 21 (see FIG. 11). Coacting with the fixed jaw is amovable jaw 44 on the side of a lever 45 fulcrumed at 46 on the bracketand projecting in a direction opposite to the traveler motion. A spring47 urges the lever toward and against the fixed jaw 42. The free endportion 48 of the lever is inclined relative to the fixed jaw andcooperates therewith to provide a throat for receiving and guiding theunwound and upwardly extending length of the reserve thread into theclamp. As shown in FIG. 1, the reserve bobbins are disposed below thepath traversed by the bottom of the traveler frame 49 and the threadclamp 37 of each unit is spaced inwardly toward the winding drum 24.

When the thread 22 being wound breaks or becomes exhausted, a pull wire(not shown) is actuated to swing the cheese arm 15 upwardly from thewinding position and overcenter past a vertical position from which thearm gravitates to the idle position shown in phantom in FIG. 1, the armthen projecting forwardly and generally horizontally from its pivot. Thecheese of the winding unit thus idled is positioned for operativeassociation with the tying unit 38 carried by the traveler 12. This unitincludes the knotter 30 including the hook 39 which is operated from anupright shaft 55 and an end finding roll 51 which is operated from ahorizontal cam shaft 53 extending along the traveler path 9 with itsleading end portion journaled in bearings 40 in plates 40 (FIGS. 6 and16) which are part of a casting 50 secured to the forward end 49 of thehorizontal bottom plate 49 of the traveler frame 49. This shaft iscoupled through bevel gearing 54 (FIG. 1) with the upright shaft 55carrying a pinion in. mesh with the traveler drive gear 28 and the driveratio is such that the shaft is turned in synchronism with the travelermotion and through precisely one revolution while the traveler moves adistance equal to the pitch spacing of the winding units 10.

In passing each idle winding unit, the tying unit 38 operates throughmean including the roll 51 and a suction device and downtake arm 41whose end 41 picks up the end portion of the broken thread on thecheese, brings it adjacent a thread 56 (FIG. 14) hung up in the clamp37, and ties the two threads together. The cheese arm 15 is then cammedupwardly by a plow 57 (FIG. 1') on the traveler and then lowered ontothe driving drum 24 to resume the winding. The structure for performingthese functions and its automatic operation is fully disclosed 4 inPatent No. 1,267,977 to which reference may be had for further details.

THE INVENTION IN GENERAL In accordance with the present invention, therelative approaching motion between the supports 11 and 12 for thewinding and tying units 10 and 38 is utilized through appropriatemechanism including a mechanical or suction type pick-up device to graspthe free end portion of the threads of bobbins in the pockets 33, drawthe same upwardly to the clamps 37, and operate the latter to receiveand grip each thread before the knotter and its associated parts of thetying unit come into engagement with the hung-up thread 56. By suchautomatic action, greater uniformity in hanging up the successivethreads is achieved with a corresponding increase in spooler efliciencyand all that is required of the spooler operator is to drop new bobbinsinto the reserve positions in the pockets 33 as they become empty.

To be picked up and positioned automatically by the improved mechanism,the leading end portion 59 of thread (see FIG. 2) which is to be furtherunwound from the mass 61 on each bobbin in the pockets 33 must occupythe same definite position relative to the upper end 58 of the core 62of the bobbin. In certain multiple winders, this thread to be hung up inthe clamp 37 of a winding unit may be that remaining between the threadcleaner 26 (FIG. 1) and a bobbin 23 is the winding position afterbreaking of the running thread 22 by the cleaner. In the presentinstance, this thread is on each bobbin 36 in the reserve position and,as shown in FIG. 2, extends from the wound thread mass 61 upwardly tothe core end 58 and then reversely into the hole of the core so that thefree end portion 63 of this thread extends into the bobbin core adistance, usually several inches and sufficient to maintain its positionduring transporting of the bobbin to the reserve pocket.

Generally stated and in the illustrated embodiment, the mechanism forautomatically picking up the threads 59 out of the reserve bobbins 36 ofthe successive winding units and hanging the same up in thecorresponding clamps 37 is mounted on the traveler frame 49 ahead of thetying unit 38 and is operated by and in synchronism with the travelermotion and through a suction nozzle 64 first to pick up the unwoundthread 59 as the nozzle passes across the end 58 of the bobbin core (seeFIGS. 1, 7, 10, 12), then clamp the thread to the nozzle, move thenozzle upwardly to unwind more thread (FIGS. 3, 4, 14), posi tion theupper end of the thread above the level of the clamp 37 (FIGS. 3, 4, 5,7 and 14) for entry into the throat of the clamp, and maintain thisposition while the thread is carried with the traveler into the clampafter opening thereof and until reclosure of the clamp.

To control the movements of the nozzle 64 accurately and in precisesynchronism with the traveler movement, it is fixed to the laterallyprojecting free end portion 65 of an elongated suction tube or arm 66fulcrumed in a bearing 67 (FIGS. 9 and 16) to swing about an axis 68back and forth transversely of the traveler movement and between thepick-up and hang-up positions shown in full and in phantom in FIG. 7.The timing is such as to dispose the nozzle in its lowermost position(FIGS. 1, 7 and 10) as it passes across the bobbin end 58 and is alinedwith the core. In its upper position (FIGS. 4 and 5), the nozzle isdisposed above the level of the hang-up clamp 37 and adjacent, but inthis instance somewhat ahead of the throat of the clamp. The nozzle inthis position is also disposed above the inlet end 69 of a secondsuction tube 71 (see FIG. 4) by which the unwound thread 59, nowvertically suspended from the nozzle, is transferred backwardly relativeto the traveler motion and transversely to a position opposite thethroat 72 of the clamp for subsequent entry into the latter.

THREAD PICK-U1 MECHANISM In the present instance, the nozzle comprises ashort frusto-conical tube 73 composed of relatively firm but flexiblematerial such as rubber of somewhat greater diameter at its larger endthan the end 58 of the bobbin cores 62. The opposite end is telescopedon a short tube 74 projecting from a hollow head 75 which is fixed tothe end portion 65 of the suction tube 66 .and establishes communicationbetween the latter and the nozzle. A notch 76 at the free end of thenozzle extends longitudinally thereof and is disposed in the plane ofswinging the nozzle and on the side to receive the picked-up thread 59and locate the same both axially and laterally relative to the nozzle asshown in FIGS. 4, and 14 when the nozzle is in the upper or hang-upposition, the thread then being located at the inner end of the notchwhich is disposed on the under side of the nozzle tube 73. Adjacent theopen end, the notch is flared to facilitate entry of the picked-upthread as the tube and nozzle are swung upwardly.

Formed on the fulcrumed end of the suction arm 66- is a hollow hub 77(FIGS. 4 and 9) fixed to one end of a sleeve 78 journaled at theopposite end and axially fixed in the bearing 67 which is formed in ablock 79' fixed to the end of a bracket 81 on the traveler frame casting50 (FIG. 16). The sleeve 78 is closed by end walls 84 and 85 andcommunicates with the tube 65 through a passage 65 and through a passage86 with the end of a pipe 86- telescoped in the gearing support 79 andcommunicating with a suitable vacuum source which may be a suitable pump87 (FIG. 13) utilized in the Type C spooler as the vacuum source for theend finding and tying unit 38 on the traveler. The nozzle is thussupported on the traveler to swing in a vertical plane 88 (FIGS. 6 and13) extending transversely of the traveler path 9 and spaced far enoughahead of the tying unit 38 to permit the pick-up and hang-up of thethread of each successive reserve bobbin between the time that the tyingunit operates on one hung-up thread and the time when it approaches thehungup reserve thread of the next winding unit.

Swinging of the suction arm back and forth is effected herein by cams 91(FIGS. 1 and 6) on the traveler shaft 53 acting through a segmental gear92 meshing with a pinion 93 (FIGS. 6 and 9) on the end of the sleeve 78opposite the hub 77 of the suction arm. The segment is on the free endof an arm 94 fixed to one end of a rockshaft 95 journaled in parts 96 onthe traveler frame. The other end of this shaft is fixed to a bell-crank97 having arms which carry rollers 98 that bear against a pair ofconjugate surfaces on the cams 91.

The cam surfaces are shaped to swing the thread pickup arm 66 up anddown in each traveler cycle or revolution of the shaft at the timesindicated at a and b in FIG. 15. As the nozzle is approaching eachreserve bobbin along the traveler path, it is also being lowered andapproaching the level of the core end as shown at 64 and 64 in FIG. 10.In the continuance of these motions, the leading side of the nozzlereaches the plane of the end surface 58 on the end just as it passes thefar side of this core end. The downward motion continues a shortdistance so that when the nozzle is alined axially with the bobbin coreas shown in full in FIG. 10, the end of the nozzle is disposed slightlybelow the plane and the nozzle is telescoped over the core end 59sufiiciently to insure efficient application of the vacuum in suckingthe portion 63 of the unwound thread out of the core and upwardlythrough the nozzle and into the tube 66. The surfaces of the earns 91are shaped to dwell the nozzle momentarily in its lowermost position asindicated at c (FIG. 15). Raising of the nozzle starts immediatelybeyond this alined position so that the trailing side of the nozzle endis at or slightly above the end surface of the bobbin core by the timethat it comes opposite the corresponding side of the 6 core end. As thenozzle passes the bobbin, it passes through the positions indicated at64, 64 (FIG. 9).

'POSITIVE UNWINDING OF THREAD Since the nozzle 64 in its upper orhang-up position is disposed above the reserve bobbin 36 a distancesubstantially greater than the length of the bobbin and of the thread 50that may be tucked into the core thereof, it is necessary to unwind anadditional length of thread off from the bobbin during the upwardswinging of the pickup arm. To accomplish this positively and withoutfail, provision is made for gripping the thread mechanically after thesuction pick-up and for clamping the same to the arm and within thelatter until the arm reaches its uppermost position, additional threadthus being pulled endwise and unwound from the bobbin as the arm isswung upwardly after the original unwound length has become taut. Forthis purpose, a clamp 101 (see FIGS. 3 to 6) is disposed within the endportion 75 of the suction tube and arranged to be opened and closed atproper times by a cam on the shaft 53. When the thread is sucked throughthe nozzle and into the tube 66 it passes between the jaws of the clampwhich is then closed at 1 (FIG. 15) to grip and secure the thread to thetube as the latter is swung upwardly. As soon as the nozzle reaches theupper position, the clamp is opened as indicated at g thus releasing thethread unwound from the bobbin.

The clamp shown herein comprises a jaw 102 (FIG. 5) extending across theinner face of one side wall of the suction tube head 75 near the nozzleend, the coacting jaw being the end 103 of a bar 105 which projectsthrough and is guided in a slot 106 in the opposite wall into and out ofthe groove to grip and release a thread sucked in through the nozzle. Ahole 107 in the inner end of the bar establishes continuouscommunication between the tube and the nozzle.

The elongated outer end of the bar lies against the outer side of thetube 66 and is slidable endwise in spaced guides 108 thereon. It isurged inwardly or in the direction to close the clamp 101 by the forceof a compression spring 109 acting between abutments 111 and 112 on thebar and tube. Retraction of the bar to open the clamp is produced by thecam 100 (FIG. 3) whose follower 113 is one arm of a bell-crank lever 114journaled on a rockshaft 115 on the traveler frame. A depending arm 116is joined by a link 117 to an arm 118 on the upper end of a rockshaft119 journaled in bearings 121 (FIG. 16) on the traveler frame 50. An arm122 fast on the lower end of this shaft bears at its free end againstthe end of a rod 123 guided in the end walls 84, 85 axially of thesleeve 78 (see FIG. 9). At the opposite ends, the rod bears against oneend of a lever 124 fulcrumed at 125 on the tube and bearing at its otherend against an abutment 126 on the clamp bar 105. With the rod 123extending along the axis of the arm 66 and having bearing engagementwith the arm 124 on this axis, the motion of the earn 100 is transmittedto the clamp bar 105 in all positions of the pick-up arm.

THREAD GUIDING DURING UNWINDING After picking up and clamping the tuckedin thread end, the arm 55 is swung relative to the traveler frame firstupwardly and then laterally along the are 127 (FIG. 7) to the uprightposition shown in phantom in which the nozzle cup faces outwardly andthe clamped thread hangs downwardly from the end of the notch 76 asshown in FIG. 5. In the initial part of the upward movement of thenozzle along the are 127, the thread is pulled upwardly substantiallyalong the axis of the bobbin. But above the horizontal position of thearm, the nozzle moves laterally and away from the bobbin axis.

To maintain the unwinding pull along the bobbin axis during this finalpart of the nozzle movement, the invention provides a movable guide 128which engages the thread between the bobbin and the partially raisednozzle to hold a nearly axial line of unwinding during the final upwardmovement of the nozzle. Herein, the guide 128 is an elongated fingerwhich projects transversely of the traveler path as shown in FIG. 12 atthe start of unwinding and is on the free end of an arm 129 fixed to thelower end of an upright rockshaft 130 journaled in a tube 131 on thetraveler frame and carrying at its upper end a crank 132 (FIGS. 7 and 8)a pin and slot coupled to the free end of an arm 133 on a rockshaft 134carrying a follower arm 135 which, by a torsion spring 136 (FIG. 7) onthe rockshaft 130, is held against the periphery of a cam 137 on theshaft 53.

The guide finger is normally disposed in the inactive position shown inFIG. 12 and in phantom in FIG. 8. It is swung into active position(FIGS. 8 and 13) as indicated at d (FIG. after the nozzle has beenraised to about a horizontal position so as to become effective inguiding the thread being pulled off from the bobbin and holding theportion adjacent the bobbin along an axial line as illustrated inphantom at 138 (FIG. 7). As the upward movement of the nozzle iscontinued, the thread is drawn around the guide and lies along a line139 as the nozzle approaches the uppermost position. The guide isreturned to inactive position as indicated at e (FIG. 15 before thenozzle reaches its uppermost position (FIG. 14).

TRANSFER OF PICKED-UP THREAD By the time that the nozzle 64 reaches itsuppermost position (FIG. 4), it will have advanced with the traveler tothe position shown in FIG. 14 substantially ahead of the clamp 37 inwhich the thread 59 is to be hung up, the nozzle also being spacedtransversely of the traveler path from the traveler side of the clamp.It is necessary, therefore, in the use of the automatic thread hang-upin the Type C spooler, to move the picked-up end of the threadbackwardly along the traveler path and transversely and inwardly inorder to bring the thread opposite the throat 72 of the clamp for entrytherein when the clamp is subsequently opened.

Such transfer of the thread and positioning for hang-up in theassociated clamp is achieved in the present instance by the coaction ofthe second suction tube 71 above referred to, a slot 140 along thebottom thereof and a shear 141 disposed between the end 69 of the tubeand the nozzle 64 in the upper position of the latter. Beyond the closedend 142 of the slot, the tube is secured by a clamp 144 (FIGS. 1 and 7)to the under side of the traveler frame 50 and communicates through apipe 145 (FIG. 13) with the vacuum source 87. The tube is disposedsubstantially horizontally and bent at the inlet end 69 to face notches146, 147 in this end outwardly and transversely of the traveler path inthe plane 88. Adjacent the closed end of the slot 140, the tube is bentsubstantially into the plane of the clamps 37, the end 142 terminatingin this plane as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. The length of the tube andtherefore the backward transfer of the thread is such that the thread,which moves instantly to the end 142 upon operation of the shear, willbe disposed opposite the throat 72 of the clamp 37 into which the threadis to be carried by the traveler and hung up.

The notches 146, 147 are alined vertically and are V- shaped so as tofacilitate entry of the thread suspended from the nozzle 64 as thelatter approaches its upper position following retraction of the guidefinger 128 at e (FIG. 15) and opening of the clamp 101 at g. The threadthus freed is held taut by the suction applied through the nozzle.

The lower notch 146 communicates with the outer end of the slot 140. Inthe upper position of the nozzle, the closed end of the notch 147 isvertically alined with the closed end of the notch 76 in the nozzle. Thethread thus suspended from the nozzle extends across the tube so that,as soon as it is severed between the tube and the nozzle by closing ofthe shear, the thread will be drawn into the tube and then along thebottom slot 140 to the definite position determined by the slot end 142.As a result of such transfer, the thread is held in upright position inthe plane of and opposite the throat 72 of the clamp 37 of the windingunit associated with the thread and its bobbin.

The shear 141 comprises a stationary horizontal blade 149 fixed asthrough a depending pin 151 (FIGS. 4, 12 and 16) to the under side ofthe traveler frame casting 50 and coacting with a movable blade 152formed by one arm of an L-shaped bell-crank lever 153 fulcrumed on thepin 151. In the open condition of the shear (FIGS. 3 and 4), the cuttingedges of the blades define between them a V-shaped notch verticallyalined with the tube notches 146, 147 so as to receive the thread movedinto these notches in the final upward movement of the pickup nozzle.

The other arm of the lever 152 is pivotally connected through a link 154with the free end of an arm 155 (FIG. 7) loose on the rockshaft which isjournaled on the traveler frame 50 and carries an arm 157 whose free endconstitutes the follower of a cam 158 fast on the shaft 53. A spring 159urges the follower roller against the periphery of the cam which isshaped to close and and open the shear at the times indicated at h and kin FIG. 15. Closure of the shear with the thread positioned as shown inFIG. 4 severs the thread above the second tube 71 thus allowing the freeend portion, then disposed in the notches 146 and 147, to be drawnquickly into the tube along the bottom slot to the closed end 142 andthen along the tube beyond this end. Since as indicated at g (FIG. 15)the clamp 101 in the nozzle 64 is opened just before the shear isclosed, any slack in the unwound length of the thread will be taken upand the thread will be held in upright position below the slot end.

At the time the shear is closer (see FIG. 14) to sever the thread, thenozzle 64 has already passed the clamp 37 in which the thread is to behung. But owing to the inclination of the tube 71 and its slot 140, thefree length of the thread is carried backwardly relative to the travelermotion past this clamp and also laterally into the plane and oppositethe throat 72 thereof. The thread is thus suspended in upright positionin the slot end 142 and above the level of the clamp 37 and is locatedfor entry into the throat of the clamp in the continued advance of thethread with the traveler.

As the suspended thread approaches the throat 72, the clamp is opened toreceive the thread as it advances with the traveler. Such opening iseffected by a cam in the form of a plow 161 (FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 16) onthe end of a projection 162 rigid with the traveler frame 49. Theinclined leading face 163 of this plow is disposed just below the clampand at the level of a lug 164 depending from the free end of the movablejaw of the clamp and engages the inclined inner side of this lug to camthe jaw outwardly and open the clamp as shown at the left in FIG. 12 andindicated at m in FIG. 15. At the time when the plow passes out ofengagement with the lug, the thread will be disposed between the clampand the jaw 44 will be swung by spring 47 against the fixed jaw 42. Thethread is thus gripped and held so that the trailing end will be drawnout of the tube 71 as the latter passes over the clamp in continuedadvance of the traveler. The thread is thus hung up in the clamp andseparated from the pick-up mechanism and thus readied for operation ofthe tying unit 38 thereon.

The movements of the various parts of the ick-up and hang-up mechanismin synchronism with the movement of the traveler 12 as the tying unit 38thereof approaches each successive winding unit 10 is illustrated inFIGS. 12 to 14 and the time charts, FIG. 15. Each pick-up and hang-upcycle for the reserve thread of each winding unit occurs in one completerevolution of the traveler camshaft 53 while the tying unit 38 isservicing the previous winding unit 10 to tie the hung-up thread ontothe package 21 and resume the winding by such unit.

Let it be assumed that the cycle starts as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15 withthe nozzle 64 in its lowermost or pick-up position (FIGS. 1 and 10 and cin FIG. 15). The unwound length of the reserve thread 59 is sucked outof the bobbin core and into-the tube and secured in the latter byclosure of the clamp 101 at f as the arm 66 starts to swing upwardly tostart the unwinding of additional thread from the reserve bobbin. Afternearly an eighth of a revolution of the camshaft 53, the finger 128 isswung in behind the thread at d thus holding the thread adjacent thebobbin in line with the bobbin axis through the first quarter revolutionwhen the parts will be positioned as shown in FIG. 13, the nozzle 64having moved somewhat past the clamp 37 in which the thread is to behung up.

At e, the guide finger is retracted just before the arm reaches itsuppermost position at just after the clamp 101 is opened to release thethread from the arm. The released thread, then disposed in the notches146, 147 at the open end of the transfer tube and between the blades ofthe shear 141, is severed by actuation of the shear at h, the parts thenbeing positioned as shown in FIG. 14 after a half revolution of thecamshaft 53. The thread thus released is transferred instantaneouslyalong the slot 140 of the tube 71 reversely of the traveler motion andthus brought into line with and opposite the throat 72 of the clamp 37in which the thread is to be hung. In the final half revolution of thecamshaft 53, the nozzle 64 is swung downwardly toward the bobbin of thenext adjacent winding unit as the thread held in upright position by thesuction tube 71 is advanced into the throat 72 of the clamp.

At three quarters of a revolution, the reserve thread clamp 37 is openedat m and then closed on the thread at n, the trailing end of the threadbeing drawn backwardly out of the tube 71. The thread thus hung up inits clamp 37 is positioned accurately for association with the on-comingtying unit 38 the same as in the standard Barber-Colman spoolers.

The pick-up cycle thus described is repeated in successive revolutionsof the camshaft 53, thus automatically picking up and hanging in theproper clamps the threads of the reserve bobbins in the pockets of thesuccessive winding units.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a thread winding machine, the combination of, a first supporthaving thereon a plurality of upwardly opening bobbin pocketsequidistantly spaced laterally along the support and each adapted tohold a bobbin with a short unwound length of the thread thereof exposedfor ready pick-up, thread grippers on said first support spaced abovethe respective ones of said pockets for receiving and holding an unwoundlength of the thread of the bobbin therein, a second support carrying atying unit including a knotter for engaging and operating automaticallyon the held-up lengths of said bobbin threads,

means mounting said supports for relative movement along a predeterminedpath to associate said tying unit with said held-up threads one by one,means for relatively moving said supports along said path, and mechanismon said second support spaced along said path in advance of said knotterand operable automatically prior to association of the knotter with eachsuccessive bobbin pocket to engage and pick up the unwound length ofthread of the bobbin in the pocket, draw the thread upwardly off fromthe bobbin to dispose the end portion of the thread in a predeterminedposition above the associated thread gripper for entry therein, each ofsaid grippers being adapted to receive the corresponding thread raisedto said position, said mechanism including means operated in timedrelation to the relative movement of said supports It) to render saidgrippers active and inactive successively to receive and hold eachthread in said predetermined position before such thread becomesassociated with said knotter.

2. A thread winder as defined in claim 1 in which said knotter isbrought into association with the successive hung-up threads in acontinuous movement of said second support past the successive bobbinpockets, and said grippers each comprise coacting jaws which open in adirection reverse to such motion.

3. A thread winder as defined in claim 2 including means biasing each ofsaid thread clamps to closed position and means on said second supportoperable in passing the successive clamps to open the same during entryof the positioned thread and then allow the clamp to close on and gripsuch thread.

4. In a thread winding machine, the combination of, a first supporthaving an upwardly opening pocket thereon adapted to hold a bobbin withan unwound length of the thread thereof exposed at the upper end of thebobbin core, a second support carrying a knotter for operating on saidunwound length of the thread of said bobbin, means mounting saidsupports for relative movement along a predetermined path and moving thesame to bring said knotter and thread into operative association, athread clamp on said first support spaced above said bobbin and having athroat facing along said path, an arm spaced along the path ahead of theknotter and fulcrumed on said second support to swing between a lowerpick-up position below said clamp and an upper position above saidclamp, means for swinging said arm to dispose the free end of said armin said pick-up position wherein said free end is adjacent said bobbinin said pocket and in said upper position wherein said free end isspaced along said path from said clamp throat, a device on the free endof said arm operable while the arm is in said lower position to pick upand hold said unwound thread length whereby to draw the thread upwardlyand unwind an additional length thereof as the arm is swung to saidupper position, and mechanism operated in the subsequent relativemovement of said supports to present the suspended thread to said clampthroat and open and close the clamp to allow the thread to enter andthen grip the thread in the clamp before the latter becomes associatedwith said knotter.

5. A'thread winder as defined in claim 4 including a cutter engageablewith the picked-up thread when the latter is suspended from said devicein the uppermost position thereof and operable when activated to severthe thread at a point spaced above the level of said clamp, and meansengageable with the cut-off end of said thread and operable to guide thesame into the associated clamp while the latter is open.

6. A thread winder as defined in claim 5 in which the suspended threadwhen out oif is spaced laterally from the throat of the associated clampand said guide means operates to transfer the cut-off thread backwardrelative to said path and laterally thereof to a position opposite thethroat of such clamp by the time the thread is presented to such throatin the relative movement of said supports.

7. A thread winder as defined in claim 5 in which said guide meansincludes a suction tube engageable at its end with the suspended threadand operating after cut-01f thereof to draw the thread into the tube.

8. A thread winder as defined in claim 7 in which the end of said tubeis formed with a notch to receive and position the thread when saiddevice reaches said predetermined position, said tube having a bottomslot open at the tube end and guiding the thread along the tube aftercutting of the thread.

9. A thread winder as defined in claim 8 in which the end of said tubeslot extends backwardly from the throat of the associated clamp andterminates in a position to present the thread to such throat in thecontinued relative movement between said supports.

10. A thread winder as defined in claim 4 in which said clamps arespaced along a line offset laterally from said path and the throats ofthe clamps open along the path toward said second support, said pick-updevice, when in said upper predetermined position, being disposed abovesaid clamp line and suspending the picked up thread in a position spacedfrom such line, said winder also including a suction device for grippingthe suspended thread above the level of said clamps, means engageablewith the suspended thread between said pick-up and suction devices andoperable when activated to sever the thread, and means operable as anincident to such cutting of the thread to shift the upper end portionthereof backwardly along said path and laterally to a position oppositethe associated clamp throat for entry therein.

11. A thread winder as defined in claim 4 in which said device, inswinging upwardly from said pick-up position, first moves away from theend of the bobbin core generally along the axis thereof and thenlaterally of such axis including a guide in the form of an arm disposedbetween the upper and lower positions of said pick-up device andswingable into and out of an active position disposed adjacent the axisof said bobbin core.

12. A thread winder as defined in claim 11 in which said guide arm ismoved into and out of active engagement with each bobbin thread by therelative movement between said supports.

13. A thread winder as defined in claim 4 including means defining asuction passage on said arm terminating at an outwardly opening nozzlewhich, in each pick-up position of said arm, is exposed to the unwoundlength of thread on a bobbin so as to draw such thread into saidpassage.

14. A thread winder as defined in claim 4 in which said pick-up deviceincludes a clamp opened and closed automatically in timed relation tothe swinging of said arm and positively gripping and holding the threadduring the upward swinging of the arm whereby to unwind an additionallength of thread from said bobbin.

15. A thread winder as defined in claim 13 including a clamp devicemovably mounted on said arm and operable automatically during movementof the arm out of said pick-up position to grip the thread sucked intosaid nozzle and hold the thread positively during the further upwardmovement of the arm.

16. A thread winder as defined in claim 13 in which said clamp deviceincludes fixed and movable jaws disposed within said passage and adaptedwhen separated to receive the sucked in thread between them, and meansoperable during the upward movement of said arm from said pick-upposition to actuate said movable jaw and grip the thread against saidfixed jaw.

17. A thread winder as defined in claim 16 in which said movable jaw isconnected to a member disposed externally of said arm and mounted toslide longitudinally of the latter.

18. A thread winder as defined in claim 16 in which said movable jaw isactuated through a member slidable axially along the axis of said arm.

19. A thread winder as defined in claim 16 in which said movable jaw isactuated through a member slidable axially along the axis of said armand including means for utilizing the relative movements of said tyingunit and bobbin pocket supports to actuate said movable jaw in timedrelation to the movement of said arm.

20. A thread winder as defined in claim 13 including means carried bysaid nozzle and operating automatically in the upward movement to thenozzle to receive and position the picked-up thread accurately andlaterally relative to the plane of swinging of the nozzle.

21. A thread winder as defined in claim 20 in which said nozzle is anoutwardly opening cup and the thread positioning means is an outwardlyopening notch disposed in the lower side of the cup in the upperposition of the latter.

22. For use with bobbins in which the unwound lengths of the threadsthereof are bent reversely and tucked into the upper end of the core ofthe bobbins as deposited in said pockets, a thread winder as defined inclaim 13 in which said nozzle is an outwardly opening cup which ismovably transaxially of the upper ends of the bobbin in the successivepockets and in each of said pick-up positions is alined axially anddisposed close to the end of a bobbin cone so as to suck the tucked-inend of thread of the core through said nozzle and into said passage.

23. A thread winder as defined in claim 22 in which the open end of saidnozzle is larger in diameter than the upper end of said bobbin coresand, in said pick-up position, is disposed slightly below the plane ofthe bobbin end and telescoped closely around such end.

24. A thread winder as defined in claim 22 in which the open end portionof said nozzle is composed of flexible material.

25. A thread winder as defined in claim 22 in which said nozzle cup isformed with a peripheral notch adapted to receive and locate thepicked-up thread during upward swinging of said arm.

26. A spooler having, in combination, a row of winding units arrangedside by side and each having a pocket for receiving a bobbin with aloose thread end and a clamp for suspending said thread above thepocket, 21 traveler including a tying unit movable along said row ofwinding units and operable in passing each idle winding unit to pick upthe thread suspended from the clamp thereof, tie it onto the thread ofthe package being wound, and restart the winding operation, meanscarried by and movable with the traveler and operably automatically toopen the successive clamps momentarily and close each clamp before thetying unit comes into operative association with the clamp, andmechanism carried by and movable with said traveler and operatingautomatically as the latter reaches each winding unit to find the threadof the bobbin in said pocket of such winding unit, draw the sameupwardly and lay the thread into the clamp of such winding unit whilethe clamp is being held open by said last mentioned means.

27. A spooler as defined in claim 26 including a cutter carried by saidtraveler and operable in passing each of said winding units to cut offthe suspended thread at a point adjacent and above the level of theclamp.

28. A spooler as defined in claim 26 in which the bobbins are disposedupright in the pockets of the respective winding units and the movementof the traveler past said winding units is continuous, said mechanismincluding a pick-up device disposed in a lower position and adapted tofind and grasp the loose end of the thread of each of said bobbins as itpasses such bobbin, and means on the traveler supporting said pick-updevice and moving the same to an upper position in which the thread ispositioned for transfer into the associated clamp in the traveler motionwhile such clamp is open.

29. A spooler as defined in claim 28 in which said pick-up device is onthe free end of an arm mounted on the traveler to swing about an axisparalleling the motion of the traveler.

30. A spooler as defined in claim 28 in which the loose end of thethread on each reserve bobbin is tucked into the bore in the upper endof the bobbin core and said pick-up device includes a suction nozzlewhich, in said lower position passes across said upper core end througha position close to and in axial alinement with said bore.

(References on following page) 13 References Cited 3,111,280 3,121,540UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 168 257 1/1944 ESSBI' 24235.6 3 279 710 5/1956FllI'St 24235.6 5 3 295 775 11/1956 Furst 24235.6 5/ 1960 Reiners et a1242-356 3/ 1962 Schweiter 242-35 .6

14 Reiners et a1. 242-355 Furst 242-355 Perry 242-35 .5 Raasch 242-35.5Raas'ch 24235.5

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A THREAD WINDING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF, A FIRST SUPPORTHAVING THEREON A PLURALITY OF UPWARDLY OPENING BOBBIN POCKETSEQUIDISTANTLY SPACED LATERALLY ALONG THE SUPPORT AND EACH ADAPTED TOHOLD A BOBBIN WITH A SHORT UNWOUND LENGTH OF THE THREAD THEREOF EXPOSEDFOR READY PICK-UP, THREAD GRIPPERS ON SAID FIRST SUPPORT SPACED ABOVETHE RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID POCKETS FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING AN UNWOUNDLENGTH OF THE THREAD OF THE BOBBIN THEREIN, A SECOND SUPPORT CARRYING ATYING UNIT INCLUDING A KNOTTER FOR ENGAGING AND OPERATING AUTOMATICALLYON THE HELD-UP LENGTHS OF SAID BOBBIN THREADS, MEANS MOUNTING SAIDSUPPORTS FOR RELATIVE MOVEMENTS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH TO ASSOCIATESAID TYPING UNIT WITH SAID HELD-UP THREADS ONE BY ONE, MEANS FORRELATIVELY MOVING SAID SUPPORTS ALONG SAID PATH, AND MECHANISM ON SAIDSECOND SUPPORT SPACED ALONG SAID PATH IN ADVANCE OF SAID KNOTTER ANDOPERABLE AUTOMATICALLY PRIOR TO ASSOCIATION OF THE KNOTTER WITH EACSUCCESSIVE BOBBIN POCKET TO ENGAGE AND PICK UP THE UNWOUND LENGTH OFTHREAD OF THE BOBBIN IN THE POCKET, DRAW THE THREAD UPWARDLY OFF FROMTHE BOBBIN TO DISPOSE THE END PORTION OF THE THREAD IN A PREDETERMINEDPOSITION ABOVE THE ASSOCIATED THREAD GRIPPERR FOR ENTRY THEREIN, EACH OFSAID GRIPPERS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE CORRESPONDING THREAD RAISEDTO SAID POSITION, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS OPERATED IN TIMEDRELATION TO THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORTS TO RENDER SAIDGRIPPERS ACTIVE AND INACTIVE SUCCESSIVELY TO RECEIVE AND HOLD EACHTHREAD IN SAID PREDETERMINED POSITION BEFORE SUCH THREAD BECOMESASSOCIATED WITH SAID KNOTTER.